Greeting card display tree

ABSTRACT

A greeting card display tree having an upright pole upon which can be mounted several sets of branches or outwardly extending arms having mounting platforms at their outer extremities for mounting a plurality of greeting cards in an upright and slightly open position. The radius of the arms decreases from the bottom to the top of the structure to give it a treelike shape.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Theodore S. Lappo 470 Apple Ave., Muskegon, Mich. 49442 [2]] App]. No. 781,447 [22] Filed Dec. 5, 1968 [45] Patented Aug. 17, 1971 [54] GREETING CARD DISPLAY TREE 8 Claims, 8 Drawing Figs.

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[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,3l4,l77 4/1967 Mileset al. 211/163 3,263.355 8/l966 March 3322.38l 5/1967 Bubb Primary Examiner-Robert W. Michell Assistant Examiner--Wencesl3o J. Contreras AuorneyPrice, Heneveld, Huizenga & Cooper ABSTRACT: A greeting card display tree having an upright pole upon which can be mounted several sets of branches or outwardly extending arms having mounting platforms at their outer extremities for mounting a plurality of greeting cards in an upright and slightly open position. The radius of the arms decreases from the bottom to the top of the structure to give it a treelike shape.

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{.0 J m W w W VS 2% W Z A a m M m F GREETING CARD DISPLAY TREE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Every holiday season, greeting cards are displayed in millions of homes throughout the world. Tables, television tops, counter tops and other flat surfaces are soon cluttered with greeting cards. Many people tape greeting cards to their woodwork, usually in a closed position. Many greeting cards are lost in the shuffle.

Another holiday phenomena is the Christmas tree. However, there are those who do not care to bother with Christmas trees, either aluminum or genuine, and the ornaments that go with them.

The present invention provides both a unique and more attractive way of displaying greeting cards and an attractive substitute for the Christmas tree. Greeting cards can be displayed in one spot and in an upright and opened position. They need not be scattered all over the house. In addition, the card display provides a unique Christmas tree.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention comprises, briefly, a greeting card display device having outwardly extending arms mounted in a rotatable fashion upon an upright pole. Each of the arms has a cardmounting means near its outer extremity such that a plurality of greeting cards can be mounted thereon in upright positions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS All of the above features are made possible by the construction as illustrated in the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the display tree laden with greeting cards;

FIG. 2 is a broken, side elevational view of an empty display tree;

FIG. 3 is a broken, plan view of a representative arm or branch of the display tree;

FIG. 4 is a broken, side elevational view of the arm shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a representative branch set of the tree;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the uppermost or top card display platform on the tree; 1

FIG. 7 is detail showing how the top of the tree may be provided .with an ornament; and

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of an extension unit for the tree.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The desirable features of this invention can be more fully appreciated by referring specifically to the specification and accompanying drawings in which two preferred embodiments or forms of the invention are described.

Thefirst'form of the invention as shown in FIGS. 1 through 6 comprises a base 10, a center pole 20, tree branch sets 30, 40 and 50, and separators 60 between each set of branches. Card-mounting platforms are provided at the extremities of each branch or arm to retain the cards 90. An uppermost platform 70 and a star top 80 are positioned at the top of the tree in the manner indicated.

The tree base 10 comprises a flat circular plate 11 having three legs 12, a center pole holder 13, and a center pole stop 14. The base 10 can be made readily of plastic, wood or other suitable material. The pole holder 13 is securely mounted on the circular plate 11 and both the holder I3 and the plate 11 define a hole through which the center pole can be inserted. The pole stop I4 prevents the center pole 20 from extending all the way to the floor. The purpose of the pole holder 13 is to give the display tree stability.

The center pole 20 is made of plastic or metal and is several feet in length. It could come as a solid pole as shown or it could come in sections which could be coupled together in some fashion. It is inserted into the aperture'in pole holder 13 during assembly of the tree.

The branch sets 30, 40 and 50 are all similar in construction. FIG. 5 is illustrative of a branch set, while FIGS. 3 and 4 are illustrative of a single branch forming a part thereof. The particular branch set shown in FIG. 5 is branch set 50. It is comprised of a hub 51 and a plurality of outwardly extending arms or branches 52, each arm or branch 52 having a cardmounting platform 33 at its outer extremity. The hub 51 has an aperture 53 therethrough such that the branch set 50 can be slipped onto the center pole 20. The diameter of the hole is slightly larger than the diameter of the pole 20. In this way, the

branch set 50 will fit fairly snugly on the pole 20 but will still rotate. The arms or branches 52 extend outwardly from the hub 51 to the card-mounting platform 33.

At its outward extremity each arm 52 fans out into a planar base 34 (see FIGS. 3 and 4). The base 34 has affixed thereon in upstanding fashion a series of separators 36a, 38a, 38b and 36b. Positioned between separators 36b and 38b is a lower profile divider 37b. A lower profile divider 37a, similarly, is positioned between separators 36a and 38a. Affixed to the rear section of the base 34 is a triangular-shaped member or divider 35 having its base lying closely adjacent the separators 36a and 36b. The member or divider 35, the separators 36 and 38 and the dividers 37 define a series of slots along their adjacent sides. Slot 39a, thus, is bounded by member 35 and separator 36a; slot 39b by separator 36a and divider 37a; slot 39c by divider 37a and separator 38a; slot 39d byseparator 38a and separator 38b; slot 39e by separator 38b and divider 37b; slot 39f divider 37b and separator 36b; and, slot 39g by separator 36b and member 35. The separators 36 and 38, as shown best in FIG. 4, are higher in profile than the dividers 37 and the member 35. These separators function to lend stability to the cards when they are placed in the slots 39 with one of the separators at the interior of each card. The cards settle when positioned in the slots in the manner described to rest on the base 34, the folds all converging near the central portion of the base 34 in the manner shown in FIG. 3.

Branch sets 30, 40 and 50 are very similar in general design. The branch set 50 according to the preferred embodiment of this invention has 10 outwardly extending arms or branches 52, each arm 52 having a radius of 13-14 inches. The branch set 40 has 7 outwardly extending arms or branches 42, each arm 42 having a radius of 9- l 0 inches. The branch set 30 has 5 outwardly extending arms or branches 32, each arm 32 having-a radius of about 6-7 inches. The hubs 51 and 41 of branch sets 50 and 40 have, in the preferred embodiment, a l A-inch radii and the hub 31 of branch set 30 has a l-inch radius. The arms or branches 52 of branch set 50 may be reinforced, if necessary, by providing ribs 54 as is indicated by the dash lines in FIG. 4. The card-mounting platforms 33 at the ends of each of the branches 32, 42 or 52 are identical.

The top card-mounting platform is in principle another branch set wherein the radius defined by the arms or branches hasdiminished to zero. The construction of this platform is best seen in FIG. 6. There are five dividers 71a, b, c, d and e disposed in a regular pentagonal fashion on a flat base 73. Between each adjacent pair of dividers, there is a set of two tall separators 72a and 72b. There is a slot between each divider 71 and each separator 72. There is, similarly, a slot 75 between each set of separators 72a and 72b. The flat base 73 is mounted on a hub 74 which is best seen in FIG. 2 and which is very similar in construction to the other hubs 31, 41 and 51. Hub 74 and flat base 73 are apertured 76 to rotatably receive pole 20.

The separators or sleeves 60a, b, c and 61 are essentially pieces of tubing with an inside diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the pole 20 and an outside diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the holes through the various hubs 31, 41, 51 and 74. Thus, these sleeves 600, b and c, and 61 act to keep the various branch sets from sliding to the bottom of the pole and provide surfaces upon which the branch sets rotate. Christmas cards can be seen in the elevated view of a branch or arm in FIGS. I and 3.

The apparatus is assembled by placing the base on a floor, table or some other fiat surface. The center pole is inserted through the hole in the pole holder 13 until it comes to rest on the pole stop 14. Then the small sleeve 61 is slid over the top of the pole 20 and down the pole 20 until its bottom comes to rest on the pole holder 13. Next the branch set 50 is slid over the pole 20, the pole 20 going through the hole in the hub 51, and down the pole 20 until the bottom of its hub 51 comes to rest against the top of the small sleeve 61. Next a large sleeve 610 is slid down the pole 20 until its bottom comes to rest on the top of the hub 51 of the branch set 50. The next branch set 40 is then slid down the pole in the same manner as was the branch set 50 until the bottom of its hub 41 comes to rest on the top of the sleeve 60c. In a similar fashion, the sleeve 60b, the branch set 30, the sleeve 60a, and the uppermost card-mounting platform 70 are all mounted on the center pole 20. Finally, a star 80 can be placed on the very top ofthe center pole 20 (FIG. 7).

Each of the branch sets 30, 40 and 50 and the card-mounting platform 70 is mounted, thus, on the center pole 20 and can be rotated about an axis defined by the center pole 20. Greeting cards 90 can be placed on each card-mounting platform 33 and on the uppermost card-mounting platform 70. Referring specifically to the card-mounting platform 33 in FIG. 3, a greeting card 90 can be opened slightly and slipped over and around a separator 36b and pushed down into the slots defined by the rear member 35, the separator 36b and the divider 37b. In this fashion, the card is securely mounted in a slightly opened and upright position. Similarly, a greeting card can be mounted over the wedge 38b, 38a, 36c, 720 or 72b. It will be seen that each card-mounting platform 33 on each of the given branches 32, 42 or 52 will accommodate as many as four greeting cards. The uppermost platform 70 will accommodate as many as 10 greeting cards.

in the embodiment of the invention shown, a total of 98 greeting cards can be most attractively displayed in an upright and slightly open position. Because the various separators 36, 38 and 72 are quite tall, each card is securely mounted; and yet, because the various dividers 35, 37 and 71, which combine with the wedges to define the slots 39 which hold the cards are fairly low, the full, colorful cover of each card is completely displayed. Each branch set 50, 40 and 30 and even the uppermost platform 70 can be rotated in order to give complete exposure to all the cards.

in case a family receives more than 98 greeting cards, it is very simple to enlarge the basic greeting card display tree. FIG. 8 shows an extension piece 100 which facilitates this operation. It has a recess 101 in its top which is just large enough to accommodate the center pole 20. The small sleeve 61 comes to rest on the top rim of the extension piece 100. It also has a short pole or post 102 extending from its bottom which fits into the pole holder 13 and comes to rest against the pole stop 14. lt has, additionally, a circular ridge 103 which provides a support for an additional branch set 110 which has not been completely shown in the drawings. The construction of this branch set is identical basically to the branch sets 30, 40 and 50 although it includes more branches of larger radius. The diameter of the hole through this hub is somewhat larger than the diameters of the holes through the hubs 31, 41 and 51 since the diameter of the extension piece 100 is slightly larger than the diameter of the center pole 20. The branch set rests on the circular ridge 103 and rotates about the extension piece 100.

In the alternative, another means for adding on additional branch sets could be resorted to where the center pole 20 is made of sections which can be coupled together. If each section of the center pole 20 roughly corresponds to the distance between branch sets, the bottom section being somewhat longer for extension into the base 10, then the capacity of the display tree could be increased by adding an additional center pole section, an additional sleeve, and an additional branch set having a greater radius and card-holding capacity than the one above it.

It is understood that the above descriptions are a preferred embodiment of this invention and that many different modifications and forms can be made thereof without departing from the broader aspects thereof.

The embodiments of the invention in which i claim an clusive property or privilege are defined as follows:

1. A greeting card display device comprising a plurality of branch sets mounted upon an upright pole in a rotatable fashion; each of said branch sets comprising a plurality of outwardly extending arms; each of said arms having a cardmounting platform positioned near its outer extremity; said platform defining a plurality of slots for receiving greeting cards such that a plurality of greeting cards can be mounted on said platform.

2. A greeting card display device as in claim 1 wherein the length of said plurality of outwardly extending arms of each of said branch sets is different for each of said branch sets.

3. A greeting card display device as in claim 2 wherein said plurality of said branch sets are arranged on said pole such as to give said display device a treelike appearance.

4. A greeting card display device comprising an upright pole; branch sets mounted thereon in rotatable fashion; each of said branch sets including a hub and a plurality of arms extending outwardly from said hub, said hub including a hole through which said upright pole extends; each of said arms having card-mounting means affixed to it near its outer extremity; said card-mounting means including a planar base; at least one separator affixed on said planar base; divider means positioned adjacent to said separator, said divider means being of a lower profile than said separator; said separator and said divider means defining slots along their adjacent sides.

5. A greeting card display device as in claim 4 wherein the length of said plurality of outwardly extending arms of each of said branch sets is different for each of said branch sets.

6. A greeting card display device as in claim 4 wherein said plurality of said branch sets are arranged on said pole such as to give said display device a treelike appearance.

7. A greeting card display device comprising outwardly extending, circumferentially spaced arms mounted in a rotatable fashion upon an upright pole; each of said arms having a cardmounting means independently associated with it near its outer extremity for supporting a plurality of greeting cards in upright and slightly opened positions; said card-mounting means including a planar base; at least one separator affixed on said planar base; divider means positioned adjacent to said separator, said divider means being of lower profile than said separator; said separator and said divider means defining slots along their adjacent sides.

8. A greeting card display device comprising a plurality of branch sets mounted upon an upright pole; each of said branch sets comprising a plurality of outwardly extending arms; each of said arms having a card-mounting means independently associated with it near its outer extremity for supporting a plurality of greeting cards in an upright and slightly opened position; said card-mounting means including a planar base; at least one separator affixed on said planar base; divider means positioned adjacent to said separator, said divider means being of a lower profile than said separator; said separator and said divider means defining slots along their adjacent sides. 

1. A greeting card display device comprising a plurality of branch sets mounted upon an upright pole in a rotatable fashion; each of said branch sets comprising a plurality of outwardly extending arms; each of said arms having a card-mounting platform positioned near its outer extremity; said platform defining a plurality of slots for receiving greeting cards such that a plurality of greeting cards can be mounted on said platform.
 2. A greeting card display device as in claim 1 wherein the length of said plurality of outwardly extending arms of each of said branch sets is different for each of said branch sets.
 3. A greeting card display device as in claim 2 wherein said plurality of said branch sets are arranged on said pole such as to give said display device a treelike appearance.
 4. A greeting card display device comprising an upright pole; branch sets mounted thereon in rotatable fashion; each of said branch sets including a hub and a plurality of arms extending outwardly from said hub, said hub including a hole through which said upright pole extends; each of said arms having card-mounting means affixed to it near its outer extremity; said card-mounting means including a planar base; at least one separator affixed on said planar base; divider means positioned adjacent to said separator, said divider means being of a lower profile than said separator; said separator and said divider means defining slots along their adjacent sides.
 5. A greeting card display device as in claim 4 wherein the length of said plurality of outwardly extending arms of each of said branch sets is different for each of said branch sets.
 6. A greeting card display device as in claim 4 wherein said plurality of said branch sets are arranged on said pole such as to give said display device a treelike appearance.
 7. A greeting card display device comprising outwardly extending, circumferentially spaced arms mounted in a rotatable fashion upon an upright pole; each of said arms having a card-mounting means independently associated with it near its outer extremity for supporting a plurality of greeting cards in upright and slightly opened positions; said card-mounting means including a planar base; at least one separator affixed on said planar base; divider means positioned adjacent to said separator, said divider means being of lower profile than said separator; said separator and said divider means defining slots along their adjacent sides.
 8. A greeting card display device comprising a plurality of branch sets mounted upon an upright pole; each of said branch sets comprising a plurality of outwardly extending arms; each of said arms having a card-mounting means independently associated with it near its outer extremity for supporting a plurality of greeting cards in an upright and slightly opened position; said card-mounting means including a planar base; at least one separator affixed on said planar base; divider means positioned adjacent to said separator, said divider means being of a lower profile than said separator; said separator and said divider means defining slots along their adjacent sides. 